Motion guidance assembly for a collimator device

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a motion guidance assembly for guiding the motion of a collimator device. The motion guidance assembly may include a first pair of flexible plates connected to the collimator device. The first pair of flexible plates may be deformable in a direction perpendicular to an opening of the collimator device. A deformation of the first pair of flexible plates may guide the motion of the collimator device based on a driving force.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/832,083, field on Mar. 27, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/147,732, filed on Sep. 29, 2018, now U.S. Pat.No. 10,658,089, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a mechanical device, andmore particularly, relates to a motion guidance assembly for guiding amovement of a collimator device.

BACKGROUND

A radiation system (e.g., a computed tomography (CT) scanner, aradiotherapy apparatus) may include a collimation assembly to reduceharmful radiation emitted from a radiation source. Application specificadjustments to the radiation reduction is achieved using the physicalmovement of a collimator device within the collimation assembly. Themovement of the collimator device may be actuated and/or guided by amotion system. However, a traditional motion system typically hasunintentional over constraints leading to unpredictable performance fromvarying friction over the lifetime of the system. Therefore, it isdesirable to develop a friction free motion guidance assembly forguiding the movement of the collimator device.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a motion guidanceassembly for guiding the motion of a collimator device. The motionguidance assembly may include a first pair of flexible plates connectedto the collimator device. The first pair of flexible plates may bedeformable in a direction perpendicular to an opening of the collimatordevice. A deformation of the first pair of flexible plates may guide themotion of the collimator device based on a driving force.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a collimationassembly. The collimation assembly may include a shielded box configuredto collimate a plurality of radiation rays, a movable gate configured toadjust an opening size of the second opening, and/or a drive assemblyconfigured to drive the movable gate to move. The shielded box mayinclude a first opening and a second opening. The first opening may beconfigured to allow a first portion of the plurality of radiation raysto enter the collimation assembly. The second opening may be configuredto allow a second portion of the plurality of radiation rays to leavethe collimation assembly. The first portion of the plurality ofradiation rays may include the second portion of the plurality ofradiation rays. The movable gate may be connected to a first pair offlexible plates. A movement of the movable gate may be guided by thefirst pair of flexible plates. The drive assembly may be configured todrive the movable gate to move in a direction associated with adeformation of the first pair of flexible plates.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a radiationimaging system. The radiation imaging system may include: a radiationsource configured to emit radiation rays; a collimation assemblyconfigured to collimate the emitted radiation rays; one or moreradiation detectors configured to generate measurement data in responseto at least a portion of the emitted radiation rays; a controllerconfigured to control one or more of the radiation source, thecollimation assembly and the one or more radiation detectors; and/or oneor more processors configured to generate an image based on themeasurement data. The collimation assembly may include: a shielded boxconfigured to collimate a plurality of radiation rays, the shielded boxincluding a first opening and a second opening, the first opening beingconfigured to allow a first portion of the plurality of radiation raysto enter the collimation assembly, the second opening being configuredto allow a second portion of the plurality of radiation rays to leavethe collimation assembly, the first portion of the plurality ofradiation rays including the second portion of the plurality ofradiation rays; a movable gate configured to adjust an opening size ofthe second opening, the movable gate being connected to a first pair offlexible plates, a movement of the movable gate being guided by thefirst pair of flexible plates; and/or a drive assembly configured todrive the movable gate to move in a direction associated with adeformation of the first pair of flexible plates.

In some embodiments, the first pair of flexible plates may include afirst flexible plate and a second flexible plate, the first flexibleplate and the second flexible plate having a same dimension andincluding a same material.

In some embodiments, the first flexible plate and the second flexibleplate may be positioned in parallel on opposite sides of the collimatordevice.

In some embodiments, the first flexible plate and the second flexibleplate may be positioned in parallel on a same side of the collimatordevice.

In some embodiments, a first end of each flexible plate of the firstpair of flexible plates may be connected to a first end of thecollimator device; and/or a second end of each flexible plate of thefirst pair of flexible plates may be fixed onto a base frame.

In some embodiments, a connector may be connected to the first end ofthe collimator device, wherein the connector being configured totransmit the driving force to the collimator device to drive the motionof the collimator device.

In some embodiments, the motion guidance assembly may further include asecond pair of flexible plates connected to the collimator device. Thesecond pair of flexible plates may be deformable in the directionperpendicular to the opening of the collimator device.

In some embodiments, the second pair of flexible plates may include athird flexible plate and a fourth flexible plate, the third flexibleplate and the fourth flexible plate being positioned in parallel onopposite sides of the collimator device.

In some embodiments, a first end of each flexible plate of the firstpair of flexible plates may be connected to a first end of thecollimator device; a second end of each flexible plate of the first pairof flexible plates may be fixed onto a base frame; a first end of eachflexible plate of the second pair of flexible plates may be connected toa second end of the collimator device; a second end of each flexibleplate of the second pair of flexible plates may be fixed onto the baseframe; and/or a connector may be connected to a side of the collimatordevice, a distance between the connector and the first end of thecollimator device being substantially the same as a distance between theconnector and the second end of the collimator device, the connectorbeing configured to transmit the driving force to the collimator deviceto drive the motion of the collimator device.

In some embodiments, a stress point on the connector associated with thedriving force may be at a substantially half height of each flexibleplate of the first pair of flexible plates or the second pair offlexible plates.

In some embodiments, the motion guidance assembly may further include athird pair of flexible plates deformable in the direction perpendicularto the opening of the collimator device. A first end of each flexibleplate of the first pair of flexible plates may be connected to a firstend of the collimator device. A first end of each flexible plate of thethird pair of flexible plates may be fixed onto a base frame. A secondend of each flexible plate of the first pair of flexible plates and asecond end of each flexible plate of the third pair of flexible platesmay be connected through a first connecting piece.

In some embodiments, the third pair of flexible plates and one flexibleplate of the first pair of flexible plates may be positioned on a sameside of the collimator device, while another flexible plate of the firstpair of flexible plates is positioned on an opposite side of thecollimator device.

In some embodiments, the motion guidance assembly may further include asecond pair of flexible plates and a fourth pair of flexible plates, thesecond pair of flexible plates and the fourth pair of flexible platesbeing deformable in the direction perpendicular to the opening of thecollimator device. A first end of each flexible plate of the second pairof flexible plates may be connected to a second end of the collimatordevice. A first end of each flexible plate of the fourth pair offlexible plates may be fixed onto the base frame. A second end of eachflexible plate of the second pair of flexible plates and a second end ofeach flexible plate of the fourth pair of flexible plates may beconnected to a second connecting piece.

In some embodiments, the first pair of flexible plates may includespring steel plates.

In some embodiments, the collimator device may be an adjustable gate oran adjustable filter.

In some embodiments, the first pair of flexible plates may include afirst flexible plate and a second flexible plate, the first flexibleplate and the second flexible plate having a same dimension andincluding a same material. The first flexible plate and the secondflexible plate may be positioned in parallel on opposite sides of themovable gate.

In some embodiments, a first end of the movable gate may be connected toa first end of each flexible plate of the first pair of flexible plates.A second end of each flexible plate of the first pair of flexible platesmay be fixed onto a base frame. A connector may be connected to thefirst end of the movable gate, the connector being configured totransmit a driving force generated by the drive assembly to the movablegate to drive the movable gate to move.

In some embodiments, the movable gate may be further connected to asecond pair of flexible plates. The second pair of flexible plates mayinclude a third flexible plate and a fourth flexible plate, the thirdflexible plate and the fourth flexible plate being positioned inparallel on opposite sides of the movable gate.

In some embodiments, a first end of the movable gate may be connected toa first end of each flexible plate of the first pair of flexible plates.A second end of each flexible plate of the first pair of flexible platesmay be fixed onto a base frame. A second end of the movable gate may beconnected to a first end of each flexible plate of the second pair offlexible plates. A second end of each flexible plate of the second pairof flexible plates may be fixed onto the base frame. A connector may beconnected to a side of the movable gate, a distance between theconnector and the first end of the movable gate being substantially thesame as a distance between the connector and the second end of themovable gate, the connector being configured to transmit a driving forcegenerated by the drive assembly to the movable gate to drive the movablegate to move.

In some embodiments, the collimation assembly may further include aconnector and a transmission part. The connector may be configured totransmit a driving force generated by the drive assembly to the movablegate to drive the movable gate to move. The transmission part may beconfigured to transmit the driving force from the drive assembly to theconnector.

In some embodiments, the transmission part may be a rod flexure or aplate, a normal of the plate being in a direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the driving force.

In some embodiments, a stress point on the connector associated with thedriving force generated by the drive assembly may be at a substantiallyhalf height of each flexible plate of the first pair of flexible plates.

In some embodiments, the drive assembly may include a linear motor or apiezoelectric actuator.

In some embodiments, the first pair of flexible plates may include anelastic material.

In some embodiments, the collimation assembly may further include anadditional gate, the additional gate being the same as the movable gateand positioned parallel to the movable gate and on a same plane of themovable gate.

Additional features will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon examination of the following and the accompanying drawings or maybe learned by production or operation of the examples. The features ofthe present disclosure may be realized and attained by practice or useof various aspects of the methodologies, instrumentalities andcombinations set forth in the detailed examples discussed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is further described in terms of exemplaryembodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described in detail withreference to the drawings. These embodiments are non-limiting exemplaryembodiments, in which like reference numerals represent similarstructures throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary imaging systemaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of an exemplarycollimation assembly according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collimationassembly including a motion guidance assembly according to someembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating an exemplary pair offlexible plates according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary drive assemblyaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collimationassembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collimationassembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collimationassembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant disclosure. However, it should be apparent to those skilledin the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without suchdetails. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, systems,components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relativelyhigh-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuringaspects of the present disclosure. Various modifications to thedisclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to otherembodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not limitedto the embodiments shown, but to be accorded the widest scope consistentwith the claims.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise,”“comprises,” and/or “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” and/or“including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that the term “system,” “unit,” “module,” and/or“block” used herein are one method to distinguish different components,elements, parts, section or assembly of different level in ascendingorder. However, the terms may be displaced by another expression if theyachieve the same purpose.

Generally, the word “module,” “unit,” or “block,” as used herein, refersto logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection ofsoftware instructions. A module, a unit, or a block described herein maybe implemented as software and/or hardware and may be stored in any typeof non-transitory computer-readable medium or another storage device. Insome embodiments, a software module/unit/block may be compiled andlinked into an executable program. It will be appreciated that softwaremodules can be callable from other modules/units/blocks or fromthemselves, and/or may be invoked in response to detected events orinterrupts. Software modules/units/blocks configured for execution oncomputing devices may be provided on a computer-readable medium, such asa compact disc, a digital video disc, a flash drive, a magnetic disc, orany other tangible medium, or as a digital download (and can beoriginally stored in a compressed or installable format that needsinstallation, decompression, or decryption prior to execution). Suchsoftware code may be stored, partially or fully, on a storage device ofthe executing computing device, for execution by the computing device.Software instructions may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. Itwill be further appreciated that hardware modules/units/blocks may beincluded of connected logic components, such as gates and flip-flops,and/or can be included of programmable units, such as programmable gatearrays or processors. The modules/units/blocks or computing devicefunctionality described herein may be implemented as softwaremodules/units/blocks, but may be represented in hardware or firmware. Ingeneral, the modules/units/blocks described herein refer to logicalmodules/units/blocks that may be combined with othermodules/units/blocks or divided into sub-modules/sub-units/sub-blocksdespite their physical organization or storage.

It will be understood that when a unit, engine, module or block isreferred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to,” anotherunit, engine, module, or block, it may be directly on, connected orcoupled to, or communicate with the other unit, engine, module, orblock, or an intervening unit, engine, module, or block may be present,unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present disclosure,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, may become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description with reference to the accompanying drawings, allof which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration and description only and are not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure. It is understood that the drawings arenot to scale.

For illustration purposes, the following descriptions are provided withreference to a motion guidance assembly, a collimation assembly, and/ora radiation imaging system. It is understood that this is not intendedto limit the scope of the present disclosure. For persons havingordinary skill in the art, a certain amount of variations, changesand/or modifications may be deducted under the guidance of the presentdisclosure. Those variations, changes and/or modifications do not departfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary imaging systemaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 1 , the imaging system 100 may include a scanner 110, a network150, one or more terminals 140, a processing device 120, and a storagedevice 130. The components in the imaging system 100 may be connected inone or more of various ways. Merely by way of example, as illustrated inFIG. 1 , the scanner 110 may be connected to the processing device 120through the network 150. As another example, the scanner 110 may beconnected to the processing device 120 directly as indicated by thebi-directional arrow in dotted lines linking the scanner 110 and theprocessing device 120. As a further example, the storage device 130 maybe connected to the processing device 120 directly or through thenetwork 150. As still a further example, one or more terminals 140 maybe connected to the processing device 120 directly (as indicated by thebi-directional arrow in dotted lines linking the terminal 140 and theprocessing device 120) or through the network 150.

The scanner 110 may generate or provide image data via scanning asubject or a part of the subject. The scanner 110 may include asingle-modality scanner and/or a multi-modality scanner. Thesingle-modality scanner may include, for example, a computed tomography(CT) scanner, a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, or an X-rayscanner. In some embodiments, the CT scanner may be a spiral CT scanner.The multi-modality scanner may include a single photon emission computedtomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) scanner, a positron emissiontomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scanner, a computedtomography-ultra-sonic (CT-US) scanner, a digital subtractionangiography-computed tomography (DSA-CT) scanner, a digital radiography(DR) device, a radiotherapy (RT) device, or the like, or a combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the subject may include a body, asubstance, an object, or the like, or a combination thereof. In someembodiments, the subject may include a specific portion of a body, suchas a head, a thorax, an abdomen, or the like, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the scanner 110 may include a gantry 111, aradiation source 112, one or more radiation detectors 114, a detectingregion 113, a collimation assembly 115, and a table 116. The gantry 111may support the radiation source 112, the radiation detector(s) 114, andthe collimation assembly 115. The radiation source 112 may include atube (e.g., an X-ray tube) configured to generate and/or emit one ormore radiation rays traveling toward the subject located on the table116. In some embodiments, the radiation source 112 may include a coldcathode ion tube, a high vacuum hot cathode tube, a rotating anode tube,etc. The radiation rays may include a particle ray, a photon ray, or thelike, or a combination thereof.

The radiation detectors 114 may be configured to detect one or moreradiation rays emitted from the radiation source 112. In someembodiments, the radiation detectors 114 may include one or more rows ofdetectors. One row may include a plurality of detectors (also referredto as channels). Thus, the radiation detectors 114 may include aplurality of detectors arranged in a row direction and a channeldirection along an annular inner wall of the detecting region 113. Asused herein, the row direction may be parallel to a central axis of thedetecting region 113 (e.g., a direction along which the table 116 mayenter into the detecting region 113). The channel direction may beperpendicular to the row direction in a three-dimensional space of thedetecting region 113. For example, the channel direction may be thecircular direction of the annular inner wall of the detecting region113. A detector in the radiation detectors 114 may have any suitableshape. For example, the radiation detector may have the shape of an arc,a circle, a rectangle, or the like, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, when the radiation source 112 emits a plurality ofradiation rays traversing the subject, the radiation detectors 114 maydetect the traversed radiation rays and generate raw data (e.g.,projection data, or measurement data) related to the subject. Thecollimation assembly 115 may collimate the radiation rays that emit fromthe radiation source 112 or travel toward the radiation detectors 114.More descriptions of the collimation assembly 115 may be found elsewherein the present disclosure (e.g., FIG. 2 and the description thereof). Adetector in the radiation detectors 114 may detect one or more radiationrays and generate a subset of the raw data. In some embodiments, animage corresponding to a slice of the subject may be reconstructed basedon raw data generated by one row of detectors. In some embodiments, animage corresponding to a slice of the subject may be reconstructed basedon raw data generated by more than one row of detectors.

The processing device 120 may process data and/or information obtainedfrom the scanner 110, the storage device 130, and/or the terminal(s)140. For example, the processing device 120 may reconstruct an imagebased on projection data (or measurement data) collected or generated bythe scanner 110 (e.g., the radiation detectors 114). As another example,the processing device 120 may transmit an instruction to the collimationassembly 115 to collimate the radiation rays. In some embodiments, theprocessing device 120 may be a single server or a server group. Theserver group may be centralized or distributed. In some embodiments, theprocessing device 120 may be local or remote. For example, theprocessing device 120 may access information and/or data from thescanner 110, the storage device 130, and/or the terminal(s) 140 via thenetwork 150. As another example, the processing device 120 may bedirectly connected to the scanner 110, the terminal(s) 140, and/or thestorage device 130 to access information and/or data. In someembodiments, the processing device 120 may be implemented on a cloudplatform. For example, the cloud platform may include a private cloud, apublic cloud, a hybrid cloud, a community cloud, a distributed cloud, aninter-cloud, a multi-cloud, or the like, or a combination thereof.

The storage device 130 may store data, instructions, and/or any otherinformation. In some embodiments, the storage device 130 may store dataobtained from the processing device 120, the terminal(s) 140, and/or thescanner 110. In some embodiments, the storage device 130 may store dataand/or instructions that the processing device 120 may execute or use toperform exemplary methods described in the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the storage device 130 may include a mass storage,removable storage, a volatile read-and-write memory, a read-only memory(ROM), or the like, or a combination thereof. Exemplary mass storage mayinclude a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a solid-state drive, etc.Exemplary removable storage may include a flash drive, a floppy disk, anoptical disk, a memory card, a zip disk, a magnetic tape, etc. Exemplaryvolatile read-and-write memory may include a random access memory (RAM).Exemplary RAM may include a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a double date ratesynchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a thyristorRAM (T-RAM), and a zero-capacitor RAM (Z-RAM), etc. Exemplary ROM mayinclude a mask ROM (MROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasableprogrammable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), and a digital versatile disk ROM,etc. In some embodiments, the storage device 130 may be implemented on acloud platform as described elsewhere in the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the storage device 130 may be connected to thenetwork 150 to communicate with one or more other components in theimaging system 100 (e.g., the processing device 120, the terminal(s)140, etc.). One or more components of the imaging system 100 may accessthe data or instructions stored in the storage device 130 via thenetwork 150. In some embodiments, the storage device 130 may be part ofthe processing device 120.

The terminal(s) 140 may be connected to and/or communicate with thescanner 110, the processing device 120, and/or the storage device 130.For example, the terminal(s) 140 may obtain a processed image from theprocessing device 120. As another example, the terminal(s) 140 mayobtain image data acquired via the scanner 110 and transmit the imagedata to the processing device 120 to be processed. In some embodiments,the terminal(s) 140 may include a mobile device 140-1, a tablet computer140-2, a laptop computer 140-3, or the like, or a combination thereof.For example, the mobile device 140-1 may include a mobile phone, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a gaming device, a navigation device,a point of sale (POS) device, a laptop, a tablet computer, a desktop, orthe like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the terminal(s)140 may include an input device, an output device, etc. The input devicemay include alphanumeric and other keys that may be input via akeyboard, a touchscreen (for example, with haptics or tactile feedback),a speech input, an eye tracking input, a brain monitoring system, or anyother comparable input mechanism. The input information received throughthe input device may be transmitted to the processing device 120 via,for example, a bus, for further processing. Other types of the inputdevice may include a cursor control device, such as a mouse, atrackball, or cursor direction keys, etc. The output device may includea display, a speaker, a printer, or the like, or a combination thereof.In some embodiments, the terminal(s) 140 may be part of the processingdevice 120.

The network 150 may include any suitable network that can facilitate theexchange of information and/or data for the imaging system 100. In someembodiments, one or more components of the imaging system 100 (e.g., thescanner 110, the processing device 120, the storage device 130, theterminal(s) 140, etc.) may communicate information and/or data with oneor more other components of the imaging system 100 via the network 150.For example, the processing device 120 may obtain image data from thescanner 110 via the network 150. As another example, the processingdevice 120 may obtain user instruction(s) from the terminal(s) 140 viathe network 150. The network 150 may be and/or include a public network(e.g., the Internet), a private network (e.g., a local area network(LAN), a wide area network (WAN)), etc.), a wired network (e.g., anEthernet network), a wireless network (e.g., an 802.11 network, a Wi-Finetwork, etc.), a cellular network (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE)network), a frame relay network, a virtual private network (VPN), asatellite network, a telephone network, routers, hubs, witches, servercomputers, and/or a combination thereof. For example, the network 150may include a cable network, a wireline network, a fiber-optic network,a telecommunications network, an intranet, a wireless local area network(WLAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a public telephone switchednetwork (PSTN), a Bluetooth™ network, a ZigBee™ network, a near fieldcommunication (NFC) network, or the like, or a combination thereof. Insome embodiments, the network 150 may include one or more network accesspoints. For example, the network 150 may include wired and/or wirelessnetwork access points such as base stations and/or internet exchangepoints through which one or more components of the imaging system 100may be connected to the network 150 to exchange data and/or information.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, thestorage device 130 may be a data storage including cloud computingplatforms, such as public cloud, private cloud, community, and hybridclouds, etc. However, those variations and modifications do not departthe scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of an exemplarycollimation assembly according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the collimation assembly 115 mayinclude a collimator device 210, a motion guidance assembly 220, and adrive assembly 230.

The collimator device 210 may be configured to narrow or adjust one ormore beams of particles or waves. In some embodiments, the collimatordevice 210 may cause the direction of one or more beams of particles orwaves to become more aligned in a specific direction. That is, the beamsof particles or waves passing through the collimator device 210 maybecome one or more collimated or parallel rays. In some embodiments, thecollimator device 210 may cause the spatial cross section of the beamsof particles or waves passing through the collimator device 210 tobecome smaller. In some embodiments, the collimator device 210 mayfilter the beams of particles or waves so that only a portion of thebeams that travel parallel to a specified direction are allowed to passthrough the collimator device 210.

In some embodiments, the collimator device 210 may include a shieldingdevice 211, a filter 212, an aperture device 213, or the like, or acombination thereof. The shielding device 211 may be configured tocollimate a plurality of radiation rays. In some embodiments, theshielding device 211 may be a shielded box (e.g., the shielded box 360illustrated in FIG. 3 ). The shielding device 211 may include a firstopening and a second opening. The first opening of the shielding device211 may allow a first portion of the plurality of radiation rays toenter the collimation assembly 115. The second opening may allow asecond portion of the plurality of radiation rays to leave thecollimation assembly 115. In some embodiments, the first portion of theplurality of radiation rays may include the second portion of theplurality of radiation rays. The filter 212 may be configured to shapethe radiation rays that enter the collimation assembly 115. In someembodiments, the filter 212 may reduce a radiation dose of the radiationrays that leave the collimation assembly 115. In some embodiments, theposition of the filter 212 may be adjusted. In some embodiments, themovement of the filter 212 may be guided by the motion guidance assembly220. The aperture device 213 may be configured to adjust the openingsize of the first opening and/or the second opening of the shieldingdevice 211. In some embodiments, the aperture device 213 may include oneor more movable gates. In some embodiments, the position of the movablegate(s) may be adjusted. In some embodiments, the movement of themovable gate(s) may be guided by the motion guidance assembly 220. Moredescriptions regarding the collimator device 210 may be found elsewherein the present disclosure (e.g., FIG. 3 and the descriptions thereof).

The motion guidance assembly 220 may be configured to guide the movementof one or more components (e.g., the filter 212, a movable gate, or thelike) of the collimator device 210. In some embodiments, the motionguidance assembly 220 may include a linear guide and a linear slider.For example, the linear slider may be connected to the collimator device210. The linear slider may be driven to move on the linear guide basedon a driving force. The movement of the linear slider on the linearguide may guide the movement of the collimator device 210.

In some embodiments, the motion guidance assembly 220 may include one ormore flexible plates. In some embodiments, the flexible plate(s) may beconnected to the collimator device 210. In some embodiments, theflexible plate(s) may be deformable in a direction perpendicular to anelongated opening of the collimator device 210. The deformation of theflexible plate(s), based on a driving force, may guide the movement ofthe collimator device 210.

In some embodiments, the flexible plate(s) may be stiff in one or moredegrees except the deformable direction. With the use of the flexibleplate(s), the collimation assembly 115 may not be over constrained. Insome embodiments, there may be no relative motion between contactingcomponent of the collimation assembly 115. With the use of the flexibleplate(s), no severe wear may be produced in the collimation assembly115. In some embodiments, with the use of the flexible plate(s), elasticpotential energy may be built based on the deformation of the flexibleplate(s), which may assist the drive assembly 230 during accelerationand/or deceleration. In some embodiments, with the use of the flexibleplate(s), connections to the stationary frame are fixed and permanent,and accordingly, there may be no guidance backlash (or hysteresis)during the movement of the collimator device 210. In some embodiments,with the use of the flexible plate(s) and/or a transmission part (e.g.,a rod flexure, see FIG. 5 ), there may be a spring-load giving preloadto the drive assembly 230, which may reduce the drive backlash (orhysteresis).

Exemplary motion guidance assemblies may include the pair of flexibleplates shown in FIG. 3 , the pairs of flexible plates 620, 625 shown inFIG. 6 , the pairs of flexible plates 720, 722, 724, 726 shown in FIG. 7, and/or the group of flexible plates 820 shown in FIG. 8 . Moredescriptions regarding the motion guidance assembly 220 may be foundelsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g., FIGS. 3, 4, and 6-8 , and thedescriptions thereof).

The drive assembly 230 may be configured to generate a force formovement of one or more components (e.g., the shielding device 211, thefilter 212, the aperture device 213, a movable gate, or the like) of thecollimator device 210. The force for movement of the component(s) of thecollimator device 210 may also be referred to as a driving force. Thedriving force may include either a pulling force or a pushing forcealong the movement direction of the one or more components of thecollimator device 210. In some embodiments, the drive assembly 230 maybe any device that can generate the driving force. For example, thedrive assembly 230 may include a direct-driven screw, a direct-drivenmandrel, a linear motor, a piezoelectric actuator, or the like, or acombination thereof. More descriptions regarding the drive assembly 230may be found elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g., FIGS. 3 and 5-7, and the descriptions thereof). In some embodiments, with the use ofthe piezoelectric actuator, the drive assembly 230 may be self-locked,without relying on external power or control for maintaining astationary position. In some embodiments, with the use of thepiezoelectric actuator, the drive assembly 230 may have controllabilityrobustness since the load inertia may be relatively low. In someembodiments, with the use of the piezoelectric actuator, theacceleration and/or deceleration of the drive assembly 230 may berelatively fast. In some embodiments, with the use of the piezoelectricactuator, the resolution of the drive assembly 230 may be relativelyhigh, and accordingly, the control accuracy of the collimator device 210may be relatively high, which may make dose savings possible.

It should be noted that the above description of the collimationassembly 115 is merely provided for the purposes of illustration and notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For personshaving ordinary skill in the art, multiple variations and modificationsmay be made under the teachings of the present disclosure. However,those variations and modifications do not depart from the scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, the filter 212 may be omitted. Asanother example, the motion guidance assembly 220 and/or the driveassembly 230 may be connected to the gantry 111.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collimationassembly including a motion guidance assembly according to someembodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3 , thecollimation assembly 300 may include an aperture device (e.g., the firstmovable gate 310 a), a pair of flexible plates (including a firstflexible plate 320 a and a second flexible plate 320 b), a base frame330, a connector 340, and a drive assembly 350. The drive assembly 350may include a motor plunger 355.

The aperture device may be configured to narrow or adjust one or morebeams of particles or waves. In some embodiments, the beams of particlesor waves are also referred to herein as radiation rays. A radiation raymay include, for example, a particle ray, a photon ray, or the like, ora combination thereof. The particle ray may include neutron, proton,electron, μ-meson, heavy ion, or the like, or a combination thereof. Thephoton ray may include an X-ray, a γ-ray, an α-ray, a β-ray, anultraviolet ray, a laser, or the like, or a combination thereof. In someembodiments, the photon ray may be an X-ray, and the scanner 110 may bea CT imaging device, a digital radiography (DR) device, a radiotherapy(RT) device, a multi-modality system, or the like, or a combinationthereof. An exemplary multi-modality system may be a computedtomography-positron emission tomography (CT-PET) system. In someembodiments, the aperture device may cause the direction of one or morebeams of particles or waves to become more aligned in a specificdirection. That is, the beams of particles or waves passing through theaperture device may become one or more collimated or parallel rays. Insome embodiments, the aperture device may cause a spatial cross sectionof the beams of particles or waves passing through the aperture deviceto become smaller. In some embodiments, the aperture device may filterthe beams of particles or waves so that only a portion of the beams thattravel parallel to a specified direction are allowed to pass through theaperture device.

In some embodiments, a collimator device may include the aperturedevice, a shielded box, one or more movable gates, a filter (e.g., aflat filter, a bowtie filter), or the like, or a combination thereof. Insome embodiments, the shielded box may be configured to collimate aplurality of radiation rays. The shielded box may include a firstopening and a second opening. The first opening of the shielded box mayallow a first portion of the plurality of radiation rays to enter thecollimation assembly 300. The second opening may allow a second portionof the plurality of radiation rays to leave the collimation assembly300. In some embodiments, the first portion of the plurality ofradiation rays may include the second portion of the plurality ofradiation rays. In some embodiments, the first portion of the pluralityof radiation rays may further include a third portion of the pluralityof radiation rays. In some embodiments, the shielded box may not allowthe third portion of the plurality of radiation rays to escapeelsewhere. The shielded box may be made of a material including lead,barium, wolfram, iron, copper, or the like, or any compound thereof.

In some embodiments, the one or more movable gates may be configured toadjust the opening size of the first opening and/or the second opening.In some embodiments, the position of the movable gate(s) may beadjusted. In some embodiments, the movement of the movable gate(s) maybe guided by a motion guidance assembly (e.g., the pair of flexibleplates). The movable gate(s) may be made of a material including lead,barium, wolfram, iron, copper, or the like, or any compound thereof.

In some embodiments, the filter may be configured to shape the radiationrays that enter the collimation assembly 300. In some embodiments, thefilter may reduce a radiation dose of the radiation rays that leave thecollimation assembly 300. For example, in a CT imaging device, thefilter may reduce X-ray energies that reach a subject (e.g., a patient)by removing long-wavelength X-rays. As another example, in the CTimaging device, the filter may make an intensity of the radiation raysto become more uniform, so that artifacts may be reduced in a generatedCT image. In some embodiments, the filter may be a piece of metal oralloy. The filter may be made of a material including beryllium,aluminum, copper, poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene, teflon,beryllium oxide (BeO), boron carbide (B₄C), or the like, or any compoundthereof. In some embodiments, the position of the filter may beadjusted. In some embodiments, the movement of the filter may be guidedby a motion guidance assembly (e.g., the pair of flexible plates).

In some embodiments, the motion guidance assembly may include one ormore flexible plates (e.g., the pair of flexible plates). The pair offlexible plates may be configured to guide the movement of thecollimator device (e.g., the movable gate(s), the filter). FIG. 3illustrates an exemplary motion guidance assembly for guiding themovement of a movable gate. In some embodiments, the aperture device mayinclude a first movable gate 310 a and/or a second gate 310 b (i.e., anadditional gate). In some embodiments, the second gate 310 b may be thesame as or different from the first movable gate 310 a. In someembodiments, the second gate 310 b may be positioned parallel to thefirst movable gate 310 a. In some embodiments, the second gate 310 b maybe positioned on the same plane of the first movable gate 310 a. In someembodiments, there may be an elongated opening 317 between the firstmovable gate 310 a and the second gate 310 b. In some embodiments, thefirst movable gate 310 a may be positioned mirror symmetrical to thesecond gate 310 b with respect to the elongated opening 317. In someembodiments, the first movable gate 310 a may be positioned centralsymmetric to the second gate 310 b with respect to a center point of theelongated opening 317. In some embodiments, the opening size of theelongated opening 317 may be adjusted by moving the first movable gate310 a and/or the second gate 310 b. As shown in FIG. 3 , the aperturedevice (e.g., the first movable gate 310 a) may be connected to a pairof flexible plates. In some embodiments, the additional gate may beimmovable. For example, the additional gate may be fixed onto the gantry111. Alternatively, the additional gate may be movable. It should benoted that FIG. 3 is merely provided for the purpose of illustration,and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, the second gate 310 b may be connected to an additional pair offlexible plates and/or an additional drive assembly (not shown in FIG. 3). The additional pair of flexible plates may be similar to the pair offlexible plates. The additional drive assembly may be similar to thedrive assembly 350.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the pair of flexible plates may include a firstflexible plate 320 a and/or a second flexible plate 320 b. In someembodiments, the first flexible plate 320 a and the second flexibleplate 320 b may have the same dimension. In some embodiments, the firstflexible plate 320 a and the second flexible plate 320 b may include thesame material. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the firstflexible plate 320 a and the second flexible plate 320 b may bepositioned in parallel on opposite sides of the aperture device. Inother embodiments (e.g., as shown in FIG. 8 ), the first flexible plate320 a and the second flexible plate 320 b may be positioned in parallelon the same side of the aperture device.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , a first end 321 of each flexible plate of thepair of flexible plates may be connected to a first end 311 of the firstmovable gate 310 a. In some embodiments, the first end 321 of eachflexible plate of the pair of flexible plates may be fixed onto thefirst end 311 of the first movable gate 310 a through a, for example,glue joint, bonding, bolted connection, or the like, or a combinationthereof. A second end 322 of each flexible plate of the pair of flexibleplates may be fixed onto the base frame 330. The second end 322 of eachflexible plate of the pair of flexible plates may be fixed onto the baseframe 330 through a, for example, glue joint, bonding, boltedconnection, or the like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments,the second end 322 of each flexible plate of the pair of flexible platesmay be fixed onto the base frame 330 via a connecting piece 331. In someembodiments, the base frame 330 may be connected to the gantry 111. Forexample, the base frame 330 may be fixed onto the gantry 111. As anotherexample, the base frame 330 may be an integrated part of the gantry 111.

The drive assembly 350 may be configured to generate a driving force todrive the first movable gate 310 a to move. As shown in FIG. 3 , thefirst movable gate 310 a may be driven to move along the X-axisdirection. The driving force may include either a pulling force or apushing force along the movement direction of the first movable gate 310a. In some embodiments, the drive assembly 350 may be any device thatcan generate the driving force. For example, the drive assembly 350 mayinclude a direct-driven screw, a direct-driven mandrel, a linear motor,a piezoelectric actuator, or the like, or a combination thereof. In someembodiments, the drive assembly 350 may include a motor plunger 355. Themotor plunger 355 may be driven by the drive assembly 350 to move alongthe X-axis direction. The motor plunger 355 may transmit the drivingforce to the first movable gate 310 a to drive the first movable gate310 a to move.

In some embodiments, the driving force generated by the drive assembly350 may be applied directly to the first movable gate 310 a to drive themovement of the first movable gate 310 a. For example, the driving forcemay be applied to the first end 311 of the first movable gate 310 a. Insome embodiments, a connector (e.g., the connector 340) may be connectedto the first movable gate 310 a to transmit the driving force to thefirst movable gate 310 a to drive the movement of the first movable gate310 a. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , the connector 340 may beconnected to the first end 311 of the first movable gate 310 a. In someembodiments, the connector 340 may be made of a hard material, such asaluminum, steel, alloy, plastic, or the like, or a combination thereof.The connector 340 may have a shape of a block, a sheet, etc. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3 , the connector 340 may include aright-angle block. In some embodiments, the connector 340 may beconnected to the first movable gate 310 a through a, for example, gluejoint, bonding, bolted connection, or the like, or a combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the connector 340 and the first movablegate 310 a may form a single piece. The drive assembly 350 may actuatethe motor plunger 355 to move, and then the motor plunger 355 maytransmit the driving force directly to the first movable gate 310 a orvia the connector 340. In some embodiments, the connector 340 may be anintegrated part of the drive assembly 350. More descriptions regardingthe drive assembly 350 may be found elsewhere in the present disclosure(e.g., FIG. 5 and the description thereof).

In some embodiments, the pair of flexible plates may be deformable in adirection perpendicular to the elongated opening 317 of the aperturedevice. As shown in FIG. 3 , the elongated opening 317 of the aperturedevice may be parallel to the Y-axis direction. The pair of flexibleplates may be deformable in the X-axis direction upon the first movablegate 310 a being driven to move along the X-axis direction. As thesecond end 322 of each flexible plate of the pair of flexible plates arefixed onto the base frame 330, the first end 321 of each flexible plateof the pair of flexible plates may move along the X-axis direction withthe movement of the first movable gate 310 a. A relative displacementmay be produced between the first end 321 and the second end 322 of eachflexible plate of the pair of flexible plates, so that the pair offlexible plates may deform. In some embodiments, the deformation of thepair of flexible plates, based on a driving force, may guide themovement of the first movable gate 310 a. More descriptions regardingthe deformation of the pair of flexible plates may be found elsewhere inthe present disclosure (e.g., FIGS. 4A and 4B and the descriptionsthereof).

In some embodiments, one or more control modules (not shown) orcontrollers (not shown) may control the operation of the collimationassembly 300. The one or more control modules or controllers may beimplemented as software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in anytype of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device.For example, the control modules may be stored in the processing device120. In some embodiments, a software module may be compiled and linkedinto an executable program. It will be appreciated that software modulescan be callable from other modules or from themselves, and/or can beinvoked in response to detected events or interrupts. Software modulesconfigured for execution on computing devices (e.g., a processor ofcomputing device 120) can be provided on a computer-readable medium,such as a compact disc, a digital video disc, a flash drive, a magneticdisc, or any other tangible medium, or as a digital download (and can beoriginally stored in a compressed or installable format that requiresinstallation, decompression, or decryption prior to execution). Suchsoftware code can be stored, partially or fully, on a memory device ofthe executing computing device, for execution by the computing device.Software instructions can be embedded in a firmware, such as an EPROM.It will be further appreciated that hardware modules can be included ofconnected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and/or can beincluded of programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays orprocessors. The modules or computing device functionality describedherein are preferably implemented as software modules, but can berepresented in hardware or firmware. In general, the modules describedherein refer to logical modules that can be combined with other modulesor divided into sub-modules despite their physical organization orstorage. In some embodiments, the one or more control modules orcontrollers may include signal processing circuitry, memory circuitry,one or more processors, a single chip microcomputer, or the like, or acombination thereof. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the oneor more control modules or controllers may be integrated in one or moreprinted circuit boards of the scanner 110.

In some embodiments, the one or more control modules or controllers maysend a motion instruction to the drive assembly 350. In response, thedrive assembly 350 may actuate the motor plunger 355 to transmit thedriving force to the first movable gate 310 a (or the connector 340)based on the motion instruction received. The first movable gate 310 amay be moved according to the driving force and guided by thedeformation of the pair of flexible plates. Therefore, the opening sizeof the second opening of the shielded box may be adjusted based on themotion of the first movable gate 310 a. In some embodiments, the one ormore control modules or controllers may control the operation of theradiation source 112. In some embodiments, the one or more controlmodules or controllers may control the operation of one or more of theradiation detectors 114.

It should be noted that the above description of the collimationassembly 300 is merely provided for the purposes of illustration and notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For personshaving ordinary skill in the art, multiple variations and modificationsmay be made under the teachings of the present disclosure. However,those variations and modifications do not depart from the scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, there may be only one flexible platefor guiding the movement of the aperture device. As another example,there may be two or more (e.g., four) gates for adjusting the openingsize of the second opening of the shielded box.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating an exemplary pair offlexible plates according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the pair of flexible plates 420 may includea first flexible plate 420 a and a second flexible plate 420 b. In someembodiments, the first flexible plate 420 a and the second flexibleplate 420 b may have the same dimension. For example, the shape, length,width, and/or thickness of the first flexible plate 420 a may be thesame as the second flexible plate 420 b. In some embodiments, the firstflexible plate 420 a and/or the second flexible plate 420 b may have ashape of a rectangle, a square, a round, an oval, or an arbitrarypolygon, or the like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, thelength, width, and/or thickness of the two flexible plates may bedetermined or adjusted according to different situations. For example,the length and/or width of the two flexible plates may be determined byavailable space of a collimation assembly (e.g., the collimationassembly 115, the collimation assembly 300 shown in FIG. 3 , thecollimation assembly 600 shown in FIG. 6 , the collimation assembly 700shown in FIG. 7 , the collimation assembly 800 shown in FIG. 8 ). Asanother example, the thickness of the two flexible plates may beselected based on a stress limit of the material (e.g., the fatiguelimit of steel), and/or the length (or the travel range) of a collimatordevice (e.g., the first movable gate 310 a shown in FIG. 3 , thecollimator device 610 shown in FIG. 6 , the collimator device 710 shownin FIG. 7 , the collimator device 810 shown in FIG. 8 , or the like). Asa further example, the length, width, and/or thickness of the twoflexible plates may be selected based on the spring rate of the twoflexible plates in combination with the travel range of the collimatordevice. In some embodiments, the first flexible plate 420 a and thesecond flexible plate 420 b may include the same material. In someembodiments, each flexible plate of the pair of flexible plates 420 mayinclude an elastic material. In some embodiments, the elastic materialmay include spring steels, elastomer, rubber, or the like, or acombination thereof. The spring steels may include carbon spring steelor alloy spring steel. The elastomer may include a thermosettingelastomer or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The rubber may includenatural rubber, neoprene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, or the like,or a combination thereof. For example, the pair of flexible plates 420may include a spring steel plate.

In some embodiments, the pair of flexible plates 420 may be connected toa connecting piece 426. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a first end 421 ofeach flexible plate of the pair of flexible plates 420 may be connectedto the connecting piece 426. In some embodiments, the pair of flexibleplates 420 and the connecting piece 426 may be configured as one singlepiece. In some embodiments, the connecting piece 426 may be fixed ontothe collimator device. In some embodiments, the connecting piece 426 maybe part of the collimator device. In some embodiments, a second end 422of each flexible plate of the pair of flexible plates 420 may beconnected to a base frame (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 4A, the pair of flexible plates 420 may maintain anatural state (e.g., straight or flat) if there is no driving forceapplied to the connecting piece 426. As shown in FIG. 4B, the pair offlexible plates 420 may be deformed based on a driving force F appliedto the connecting piece 426 along the X-axis direction. In someembodiments, the driving force F may include either a pulling force or apushing force along the X-axis direction. Therefore, the pair offlexible plates 420 may be deformable in the X-axis direction. With thedeformation of the pair of flexible plates 420, the connecting piece 426may move along the X-axis direction, and accordingly, the pair offlexible plates 420 may guide the movement of the collimator device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary drive assemblyaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 5 , the drive assembly 550 may include a linear motor or apiezoelectric actuator. The drive assembly 550 may include a motorplunger 555. The motor plunger 555 may be configured to transmit adriving force to a collimator device (or the connector 540). Thecollimator device may be a movable (or adjustable) gate or a movable (oradjustable) filter described elsewhere in the present disclosure. Insome embodiments, the motor plunger 555 may be connected to theconnector 540 via a transmission part. In some embodiments, thetransmission part may be a plate. In some embodiments, the normal of theplate may be in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to thedriving force (e.g., the Y-axis direction, the Z-axis direction). Insome embodiments, the transmission part may be a rod flexure 557. Forexample, one end of the rod flexure 557 may be fixed onto the motorplunger 555 through, for example, a threaded connection, glue joint,bonding, bolted connection, or the like, or a combination thereof. Theother end of the rod flexure 557 may be connected to the connector 540through a, for example, threaded connection, glue joint, bonding, boltedconnection, or the like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments,the other end of the rod flexure 557 may be in contact with, other thanbeing fixed onto, the connector 540.

In some embodiments, the rod flexure 557 may be made of an elasticmaterial. In some embodiments, the transmission part (e.g., the rodflexure 557) may deform during the movement of the collimator device. Insome embodiments, the rod flexure 557 may deform due to a variancebetween the drive assembly 550 and a trajectory of the collimatordevice. Merely by way of example, as shown in FIG. 6 , if the driveassembly 650 is aligned in the X-axis direction, and the driving forceis in the X-axis direction, the collimator device 610 may move in theX-axis direction. In some embodiments, the collimator device 610 mayhave a relatively small displacement in the Y-axis direction during themovement of the collimator device 610 in the X-axis direction, and thenthe rod flexure 557 may deform due to the displacement of the collimatordevice 610 in the Y-axis direction. The displacement of the collimatordevice 610 in a direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) different fromthat of the driving force (e.g., the X-axis direction) may be generateddue to one or more factors including for example, inaccuracy of thedrive assembly 550 with respect to the X-axis direction, natural bendingof the flexible plates, etc. In some embodiments, as illustrated above,the transmission part may be a plate instead of the rod flexure 557.Similar to the rod flexure 557, the plate may deform due to variance(s)between the drive assembly 550 and the trajectory of the collimatordevice. In some embodiments, spring rate differences of flexible ratepairs may cause the collimator device to rotate about the Z-axis duringtrajectory in the X-axis direction. In some embodiments, a plateconnection parallel to the X-Y plane may resist rotation of thecollimator device while allowing displacements in the Y-axis direction.It should be noted that because of the deformation characteristics, thetransmission part may support or tolerate possible spring ratedifferences between the flexible plate pairs, possible mechanical errorsof the flexible plates, etc., so that the stability of the movement ofthe collimator device 610 may be improved.

In some embodiments, with the use of the rod flexure 557, the connectionbetween the drive assembly 550 and the connector 540 may be stableand/or permanent. In some embodiments, with the use of the rod flexure557, there may be no drive backlash (or hysteresis) when the driveassembly 550 drives the movement of the connector 540. In someembodiments, with the use of the rod flexure 557, no wear will beproduced in the collimation assembly, which may improve the service lifeof the motion guidance assembly.

As shown in FIG. 5 , a stress point 560 on the connector 540 associatedwith the driving force may be located at a position on the connector 540where the rod flexure 557 connects to or is in contact with theconnector 540. The stress point 560 may be located at any reasonableposition of the connector 540. In some embodiments, the stress point 560on the connector 540 may be at a substantially half height of eachflexible plate of a pair of flexible plates (e.g., the pair of flexibleplates shown in FIG. 3 , the pairs of flexible plates 620, 625 shown inFIG. 6 , the pairs of flexible plates 720, 722, 724, 726 shown in FIG. 7, the group of flexible plates 820 shown in FIG. 8 ), which mayeliminate or reduce the bending moment load of the pair of flexibleplates.

It should be noted that the above description of the drive assembly 550is merely provided for the purposes of illustration, and not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure. For persons having ordinaryskills in the art, multiple variations and modifications may be madeunder the teachings of the present disclosure. However, those variationsand modifications do not depart from the scope of the presentdisclosure. For example, the rod flexure 557 may be omitted, and themotor plunger 555 may be connected to the connector 540 directly. Asanother example, the connector 540 may be configured as a portion of thedrive assembly 550 (e.g., the motor plunger 555 and the connector 540may form a single piece).

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collimationassembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Asshown in FIG. 6 , the collimation assembly 600 may include a collimatordevice 610, a first pair of flexible plates 620, a second pair offlexible plates 625, a base frame 630, a connector 640, and a driveassembly 650. The collimator device 610 may be similar to the collimatordevice illustrated in FIG. 3 . The first pair of flexible plates 620 andthe second pair of flexible plates 625 may be similar to the pair offlexible plates illustrated in FIG. 3 and/or the pair of flexible plates420 shown in FIG. 4 . The connector 640 may be similar to the connector340 illustrated in FIG. 3 and/or the connector 540 shown in FIG. 5 . Thedrive assembly 650 may be similar to the drive assembly 350 illustratedin FIG. 3 and/or the drive assembly 550 shown in FIG. 5 . The base frame630 may be similar to the base frame 330 illustrated in FIG. 3 .

As shown in FIG. 6 , the first pair of flexible plates 620 may include afirst flexible plate and a second flexible plate. In some embodiments,the first flexible plate and the second flexible plate may have the samedimension and/or may include the same material. In some embodiments, thefirst flexible plate and the second flexible plate may be positioned inparallel on opposite sides of the collimator device 610 (e.g., a movablegate). The second pair of flexible plates 625 may include a thirdflexible plate and a fourth flexible plate. In some embodiments, thethird flexible plate and the fourth flexible plate may also bepositioned in parallel on opposite sides of the collimator device 610(e.g., the movable gate). In this case, a first end of each flexibleplate of the first pair of flexible plates 620 may be connected to afirst end of the collimator device 610. A second end of each flexibleplate of the first pair of flexible plates 620 may be fixed onto thebase frame 630. A first end of each flexible plate of the second pair offlexible plates 625 may be connected to a second end of the collimatordevice 610. A second end of each flexible plate of the second pair offlexible plates 625 may be fixed onto the base frame 630.

In some embodiments, a connector 640 may be connected to a side of thecollimator device 610. The connector 640 may be configured to transmit adriving force generated by the drive assembly 650 to the collimatordevice 610. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6 , the distancebetween the connector 640 and the first end of the collimator device 610may be the same (or substantially the same) as the distance between theconnector 640 and the second end of the collimator device 610. In someembodiments, a stress point on the connector 640 associated with thedriving force generated by the drive assembly 650 may be at a half (orsubstantially half) height of each flexible plate of the first pair offlexible plates 620 and the second pair of flexible plates 625.

It should be noted that the above description of the collimationassembly 600 is merely provided for the purposes of illustration, andnot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For personshaving ordinary skills in the art, multiple variations and modificationsmay be made under the teachings of the present disclosure. However,those variations and modifications do not depart from the scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, both flexible plates of the first pairof flexible plates 620 may be positioned on one side of the collimatordevice 610. As another example, both flexible plates of the second pairof flexible plates 625 may be positioned on one side of the collimatordevice 610. As a further example, each flexible plate of the first pairof flexible plates 620 and the second pair of flexible plates 625 may bepositioned on the same side of the collimator device 610. As a furtherexample, one flexible plate of the first pair of flexible plates 620 andone flexible plate of the second pair of flexible plates 625 may beomitted, and the other flexible plate of the first pair of flexibleplates 620 and the other flexible plate of the second pair of flexibleplates 625 may be positioned on different sides of the collimator device610.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collimationassembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Asshown in FIG. 7 , the collimation assembly 700 may include a collimatordevice 710, a first pair of flexible plates 720, a second pair offlexible plates 722, a third pair of flexible plates 724, a fourth pairof flexible plates 726, a base frame 730, a connector 740 and a driveassembly 750. The collimator device 710 may be similar to the collimatordevice illustrated in FIG. 3 . The first pair of flexible plates 720,the second pair of flexible plates 722, the third pair of flexibleplates 724, and the fourth pair of flexible plates 726 may be similar tothe pair of flexible plates illustrated in FIG. 3 and/or the pair offlexible plates 420 shown in FIG. 4 . The connector 740 may be similarto the connector 340 illustrated in FIG. 3 and/or the connector 540shown in FIG. 5 . The drive assembly 750 may be similar to the driveassembly 350 illustrated in FIG. 3 and/or the drive assembly 550 shownin FIG. 5 . The base frame 630 may be similar to the base frame 330illustrated in FIG. 3 .

As shown in FIG. 7 , the first pair of flexible plates 720 may include afirst flexible plate and a second flexible plate. In some embodiments,the first flexible plate and the second flexible plate may have the samedimension and/or may include the same material. In some embodiments, thefirst flexible plate and the second flexible plate may be positioned inparallel on opposite sides of the collimator device 710 (e.g., a movablegate). The second pair of flexible plates 722 may include a thirdflexible plate and a fourth flexible plate. In some embodiments, thethird flexible plate and the fourth flexible plate may also bepositioned in parallel on opposite sides of the movable gate.

In some embodiments, a first end of each flexible plate of the firstpair of flexible plates 720 may be connected to a first end of thecollimator device 710. A first end of each flexible plate of the thirdpair of flexible plates 724 may be fixed onto the base frame 730 (e.g.,via a connecting piece 731). A second end of each flexible plate of thefirst pair of flexible plates 720 and a second end of each flexibleplate of the third pair of flexible plates 724 may be connected througha first connecting piece 760. As shown in FIG. 7 , the third pair offlexible plates 724 and one flexible plate of the first pair of flexibleplates 720 may be positioned on the same side of the collimator device710. Another flexible plate of the first pair of flexible plates 720 maybe positioned on an opposite side of the collimator device 710.

In some embodiments, a first end of each flexible plate of the secondpair of flexible plates 722 may be connected to a second end of thecollimator device 710. A first end of each flexible plate of the fourthpair of flexible plates 726 may be fixed onto the base frame 730 (e.g.,via a connecting piece 732). A second end of each flexible plate of thesecond pair of flexible plates 722 and a second end of each flexibleplate of the fourth pair of flexible plates 726 may be connected to asecond connecting piece 765. As shown in FIG. 7 , the fourth pair offlexible plates 726 and one flexible plate of the second pair offlexible plates 722 may be positioned on the same side of the collimatordevice 710. Another flexible plate of the second pair of flexible plates722 may be positioned on an opposite side of the collimator device 710.

In some embodiments, the first connecting piece 760 and the secondconnecting piece 765 may be made of hard materials. Exemplary hardmaterials may include aluminum, steel, alloy, plastic, wood, or thelike, or a combination thereof. With the first connecting piece 760, thefirst pair of flexible plates 720 may operate in combination with thethird pair of flexible plates 724 to guide the movement of thecollimator device 710. With the second connecting piece 765, the secondpair of flexible plates 722 may operate in combination with the fourthpair of flexible plates 726 to guide the movement of the collimatordevice 710. For example, if a driving force is applied to the collimatordevice 710 along the X-axis direction, the collimator device 710 maymove along the X-axis direction, the first pair of flexible plates 720,the second pair of flexible plates 722, the third pair of flexibleplates 724, and the fourth pair of flexible plates 726 may deform in theX-axis direction, and the deformation of the four pairs of flexibleplates may guide the movement of the collimator device 710.

In some embodiments, the connection between the first pair of flexibleplates 720 and the third pair of flexible plates 724, or the connectionbetween the second pair of flexible plates 722 and the fourth pair offlexible plates 726 may be regarded as a series connection. Theconnection between the first pair of flexible plates 720 and the secondpair of flexible plates 722 may be regarded as a parallel connection. Aseries connection used herein refers that two or more pairs of flexibleplates are connected directly or indirectly to a same site of thecollimator device 710. A parallel connection used herein refers that twoor more pairs of flexible plates are connected directly or indirectly todifferent sites of the collimator device 710. In some embodiments, theremay be one or more additional pairs of flexible plates that are inseries connection and/or parallel connection with the collimator device710. For example, another pair of flexible plates may be in seriesconnection with the third pair of flexible plates 724. As anotherexample, another pair of flexible plates may be connected to thecollimator device 710, being connected in parallel with the first pairof flexible plates 720 and the second pair of flexible plates 722.

In some embodiments, with the use of the series connection, the travelrange of the collimator device 710 may be increased. As shown in FIG. 6, a deformation of the first pair of flexible plates 620 may induce adisplacement of the collimator device 610 relative to the base frame630. As shown in FIG. 7 , a deformation of the first pair of flexibleplates 720 may induce a displacement of the collimator device 710relative to the first connecting piece 760, and a deformation of thethird pair of flexible plates 724 may induce a displacement of the firstconnecting piece 760 relative to the base frame 730. The displacement ofthe collimator device 710 relative to the base frame 730 may be a sum ofthe displacement of the collimator device 710 relative to the firstconnecting piece 760 and the displacement of the first connecting piece760 relative to the base frame 730. Therefore, the travel range of thecollimator device 710 may be increased. In other words, if there is aseries connection between the first pair of flexible plates 720 and thethird pair of flexible plates 724, the travel range of the collimatordevice 710 may be determined based on the combination of the travelrange of the first pair of flexible plates 720 and the third pair offlexible plates 724. In some embodiments, with the use of the parallelconnection, the stiffness (or strength) of the collimation assembly maybe improved. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , two ends of thecollimator device 710 may be guided to move based on the deformation ofthe first pair of flexible plates 720 and the second pair of flexibleplates 722, respectively.

It should be noted that the above description of the collimationassembly 700 is merely provided for the purposes of illustration, andnot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For personshaving ordinary skills in the art, multiple variations and modificationsmay be made under the teachings of the present disclosure. However,those variations and modifications do not depart from the scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, the first pair of flexible plates 720and the third pair of flexible plates 724 may be omitted, or the secondpair of flexible plates 722 and the fourth pair of flexible plates 726may be omitted. As another example, each flexible plate of the firstpair of flexible plates 720 may be positioned on the same side of thecollimator device 710. As a further example, each flexible plate of thesecond pair of flexible plates 722 may be positioned on the same side ofthe collimator device 710.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collimationassembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Asshown in FIG. 8 , the collimation assembly 800 may include a collimatordevice 810 and a group of flexible plates 820. The collimator device 810may be similar to the collimator device illustrated in FIG. 3 . Eachflexible plate of the group of flexible plates 820 may be similar to oneflexible plate of the pair of flexible plates illustrated in FIG. 3and/or one flexible plate of the pair of flexible plates 420 shown inFIG. 4 .

In some embodiments, the group of flexible plates 820 may include atleast two flexible plates that are positioned in parallel. For example,as shown in FIG. 8 , the group of flexible plates 820 may include fourflexible plates. The four flexible plates may be positioned in parallelon the same side of the collimator device 810. In some embodiments, oneend of each flexible plate of the group of flexible plates 820 may beconnected to one end of the collimator device 810. The other end of eachflexible plate of the group of flexible plates 820 may be fixed on abased frame (not shown in FIG. 8 ). The deformation of the group offlexible plates 820, based on a driving force, may guide the movement ofthe collimator device 810. In some embodiments, the collimator device810 may be driven by the driving force to move along the X-axisdirection, and accordingly, the group of flexible plates 820 may bedeformable in the X-axis direction and may guide the movement of thecollimator device 810. In some embodiments, the driving force may begenerated by a drive assembly. The drive assembly may be similar to thedrive assembly described elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g.,FIGS. 3 and 5 , and the descriptions thereof).

Having thus described the basic concepts, it may be rather apparent tothose skilled in the art after reading this detailed disclosure that theforegoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way ofexample only and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, andmodifications may occur and are intended to those skilled in the art,though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, andmodifications are intended to be suggested by this disclosure and arewithin the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of thisdisclosure.

Moreover, certain terminology has been used to describe embodiments ofthe present disclosure. For example, the terms “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” and/or “some embodiments” mean that a particular feature,structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Therefore, it is emphasized and should be appreciated that two or morereferences to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an alternativeembodiment” in various portions of this specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures or characteristics may be combined assuitable in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

Further, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects ofthe present disclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any ofa number of patentable classes or context including any new and usefulprocess, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new anduseful improvement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be implemented entirely hardware, entirely software(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or combiningsoftware and hardware implementation that may all generally be referredto herein as a “unit,” “module,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe present disclosure may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer-readable media having computer readableprogram code embodied thereon.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description ofembodiments of the present disclosure, various features are sometimesgrouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereoffor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure aiding in theunderstanding of one or more of the various inventive embodiments. Thismethod of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed subject matter requires more features thanare expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive embodiments liein less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities or propertiesused to describe and claim certain embodiments of the application are tobe understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about,”“approximate,” or “substantially.” For example, “about,” “approximate,”or “substantially” may indicate ±20% variation of the value itdescribes, unless otherwise stated. Accordingly, in some embodiments,the numerical parameters set forth in the written description andattached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon thedesired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. Insome embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in lightof the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinaryrounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges andparameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of theapplication are approximations, the numerical values set forth in thespecific examples are reported as precisely as practicable.

Each of the patents, patent applications, publications of patentapplications, and other material, such as articles, books,specifications, publications, documents, things, and/or the like,referenced herein is hereby incorporated herein by this reference in itsentirety for all purposes, excepting any prosecution file historyassociated with same, any of same that is inconsistent with or inconflict with the present document, or any of same that may have alimiting affect as to the broadest scope of the claims now or laterassociated with the present document. By way of example, should there beany inconsistency or conflict between the description, definition,and/or the use of a term associated with any of the incorporatedmaterial and that associated with the present document, the description,definition, and/or the use of the term in the present document shallprevail.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theapplication disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of theembodiments of the application. Other modifications that may be employedmay be within the scope of the application. Thus, by way of example, butnot of limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of theapplication may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein.Accordingly, embodiments of the present application are not limited tothat precisely as shown and described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motion guidance assembly of a collimatordevice, comprising: at least one flexible plate operably coupled to thecollimator device and being deformable during the motion of thecollimator device, wherein the collimator device includes at least oneof an adjustable gate or an adjustable filter.
 2. The motion guidanceassembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible plate isdeformable in a deformable direction perpendicular to an opening of thecollimator device.
 3. The motion guidance assembly of claim 1, whereinthe at least one flexible plate is deformable in a deformable directionparallel to a movement direction of the collimator device.
 4. The motionguidance assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible plate isdeformable under a driving force.
 5. The motion guidance assembly ofclaim 4, wherein a normal of the at least one flexible plate is in adirection that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of thedriving force.
 6. The motion guidance assembly of claim 1, wherein theat least one flexible plate is configured to guide the motion of thecollimator device through deformation.
 7. The motion guidance assemblyof claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible plate is furtherconfigured to assist an acceleration or a deceleration of the motion ofthe collimator device through deformation.
 8. The motion guidanceassembly of claim 1, wherein a size of the at least one flexible plateis determined based at least in part on a travel range of the collimatordevice.
 9. The motion guidance assembly of claim 1, wherein a first endof each flexible plate of the at least one flexible plate is operablycoupled to a first end of the collimator device; and a second end of theeach flexible plate is fixed onto a base frame.
 10. The motion guidanceassembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible plate includes afirst pair of flexible plates, the first pair of flexible platesincluding a first flexible plate and a second flexible plate, the firstflexible plate and the second flexible plate having a same dimension andincluding a same material.
 11. The motion guidance assembly of claim 10,wherein a connector is operably coupled to a first end of the collimatordevice, the connector being configured to transmit a driving force tothe collimator device to drive the motion of the collimator device. 12.The motion guidance assembly of claim 10, further comprising a secondpair of flexible plates operably coupled to the collimator device, thesecond pair of flexible plates being deformable.
 13. The motion guidanceassembly of claim 12, wherein the second pair of flexible plates includea third flexible plate and a fourth flexible plate, the third flexibleplate and the fourth flexible plate being positioned in parallel onopposite sides of the collimator device.
 14. The motion guidanceassembly of claim 10, further comprising a second pair of flexibleplates, the second pair of flexible plates being deformable, wherein afirst end of each flexible plate of the first pair of flexible plates isoperably coupled to a first end of the collimator device; a first end ofeach flexible plate of the second pair of flexible plates is fixed ontoa base frame; and a second end of each flexible plate of the first pairof flexible plates and a second end of each flexible plate of the secondpair of flexible plates are operably coupled through a first connectingpiece.
 15. The motion guidance assembly of claim 14, wherein the secondpair of flexible plates and one flexible plate of the first pair offlexible plates are positioned on a same side of the collimator device,while another flexible plate of the first pair of flexible plates ispositioned on an opposite side of the collimator device.
 16. The motionguidance assembly of claim 14, further comprising a third pair offlexible plates and a fourth pair of flexible plates, the third pair offlexible plates and the fourth pair of flexible plates being deformable,wherein a first end of each flexible plate of the third pair of flexibleplates is operably coupled to a second end of the collimator device; afirst end of each flexible plate of the fourth pair of flexible platesis fixed onto the base frame; and a second end of each flexible plate ofthe third pair of flexible plates and a second end of each flexibleplate of the fourth pair of flexible plates are operably coupled to asecond connecting piece.
 17. The motion guidance assembly of claim 1,wherein the at least one flexible plate includes at least one springsteel plate.
 18. A collimation assembly, comprising: a shielded boxconfigured to collimate a plurality of radiation rays, the shielded boxincluding one or more openings configured to allow at least a portion ofthe plurality of radiation rays to pass through; and a movable gateconfigured to adjust an opening size of at least one of the one or moreopenings through a movement, the movable gate being operably coupled toat least one flexible plate, the at least one flexible plate beingdeformable during the movement of the movable gate.
 19. A radiationsystem, comprising: a radiation source configured to emit radiationrays; and a collimation assembly configured to collimate the emittedradiation rays; wherein the collimation assembly includes: a shieldedbox configured to collimate a plurality of radiation rays, the shieldedbox including one or more openings configured to allow at least aportion of the plurality of radiation rays to pass through; and amovable gate configured to adjust an opening size of at least one of theone or more openings through a movement, the movable gate being operablycoupled to at least one flexible plate, the at least one flexible platebeing deformable during the movement of the movable gate.